Tuscan Delights: Top Things to Do on a Wine Tour in Tuscany
Picturesque, atmospheric and romantic, Tuscany is renowned for its lyrical landscapes, rich cultural and artistic legacy, and fascinating medieval towns. It’s also one of the most popular destinations for Italy wine tasting tours, as it’s home to some of Italy’s finest wines as well as numerous gastronomic delights.
This magical region truly excites all five senses. To help you make the most of your trip, here’s an overview of the top things to do on a wine tour in Tuscany.
Explore the Region’s Gastronomic Heritage
Each region of Italy has its own specialities, but Tuscany is a gourmet destination par excellence. Renowned for its sensational slow food, Tuscan cuisine is simple, often rustic, with local, seasonal produce at its heart.
From bountiful fruit and veg to wild game and a coastline abundant with fish and seafood, Tuscan cuisine enhances the natural flavours and quality of the ingredients by doing as little to it as possible. From countryside trattorias to Michelin-starred restaurants, all our Tuscany wine tours give you the opportunity to savour the true tastes of the region.
Try Your Hand at Italian Cookery
Sometimes tasting the food simply isn’t enough; you want to recreate your Italian adventures from the comfort of your home. Include a Tuscan cookery course on your wine tasting tour, and you can do just that.
Discover the secrets of homemade pasta, pizza, sauces, risottos and those hearty Tuscan stews. Learn how to make your own gelato. Then eats the fruits of your labour while looking over the rolling countryside and sipping a glass or two of wine.
Go on Countryside Adventures
The Tuscan landscape is simply idyllic. Rolling hills outlined with rows of cypress and poplar trees, vineyards stretching into the distance, sunburnt wheat fields and tiny hamlets. It’s a landscape begging to be explored – and there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in beauty and adventure.
Go hiking through forests and hamlets, cycle past vineyards and orchards, get off-road on a mountain bike, or saddle up for a horseback adventure through the hills. And if you love foraging for food, autumn is perfect for truffle hunting.
Stay at a Chianti Winery
Imagine waking in a beautiful, centuries-old villa to the sound of birdsong. Throwing open the shutters to see rows of vines stretching before you, while rosemary, thyme and lavender scent the air.
Staying in a luxurious Chianti winery gives you a new perspective on this famed region. Meet the winemakers and vineyard families, learn the impact of Chianti’s unique terroir, and see how the region’s most famous export is made. Spend your days enjoying outdoor activities or lazing around the pool, before enjoying an evening meal paired with wines on the terrace at sunset.
Discover Medieval Hilltop Hamlets
Smell medieval hamlets perched upon rolling hills are one of the defining features of the Tuscan landscape. Unchanged for centuries, wandering these ancient streets is like stepping back in time.
From the moment you walk beneath the medieval gate you’re transported to a bygone era. Wander narrow cobbled streets and stop for a coffee in bustling piazzas while soaking up the ambiance. Marvel at medieval frescoes adorning chapels and churches, and head to the highest point for mesmerising views over the terracotta roof tiles to the verdant landscape beyond.
Tuscan Wine Tours with SmoothRed
Of course, the best thing to do on a wine tasting tour in Tuscany is taste the wine! From Sangiovese to Chianti Classicos, Super Tuscans to Vin Santo dessert wines, we can arrange fully chauffeured tastings of some of Tuscany’s finest wines.
Our 9-day Luxury Tuscan Collection tour takes you from Chianti to Maremma, skilfully blending wine tours and gourmet dinners with hiking, biking and Italian cookery classes, giving you a flavour of everything Tuscany has to offer.
Alternatively combine a trip to the medieval town of Siena with the blissful relaxation of the Chianti Hills on our 5-day Discovering Siena and Chianti wine tour.
As always, all our Tuscan wine tours can be adapted to suit your requirements and tastes. To book your bespoke private wine tour in Tuscany, contact sales@smoothred.com or call +44 208 877 4940 for more information.
